One of the most entertaining conceits in science fiction is the starfighter: a battleplane designed for outer space dogfights. They make for great visuals (and great merchandise spinoffs). But which is the best of the best? We break down the best starfighter from 10 combat-oriented sci-fi franchises.

It's an F-14 Tomcat that can transform into a mecha battlebot (for better and for worse) as seen in the various incarnations of the Macross/Robotech anime franchise. So it's got that going for it, which is nice.

The spacefaring descendant of the modern day Harrier VTOL, the Hammerhead was the death-dealing battleplane preferred by the Marine Corps pilots of Space: Above and Beyond. I dare you to speak ill of it, Chig.

The starfighter reverse-engineered from alien Goa'uld technology by Stargate Command, it was designed to be a weapon of war to defeat space tyrants who often employed weapons of terror. In other words, the F-302 was the gun that humanity brought to an alien knife fight. You gotta love that.

4. Earthforce Mk2 SA-23E Mitchell-Hyundyne StarfuryThe quasi-realistic starfighter from Babylon 5, the Starfury has the distinction of looking like it was actually designed for space combat, rather than appearing to be a conventional fighter aircraft just thrown into a microgravity vacuum because it looks cool. Which is to say, Starfuries spin rather than bank, and they use that tactic to their brutal advantage. It's the starfighter for I-told-you-so science nerds, which is a mark both for and against it.
3. Star League Gunstar

The most advanced version of the lead starfighter in the reimagined Battlestar Galacticafranchise, the Viper Mk. VII is a favorite of hard sci-fi geeks because it plays by microgravity vector-thrust rules (most of the time). It has actual projectile cannons and semi-realistic sensors, and its painfully human pilots wear real flight suits and suffer real g-turn consequences. Plus, it just looks cool — especially when blasted out of a believable launch tube. In short, the Viper is the starfighter for grownups. So say we all.

1. Incom T-65 X-WingThe one starfighter every kid grows up wanting to fly. With its distinctive shape and forceful knight's-lance blaster cannons, it's an iconic component of the Star Wars saga. There are more graceful craft, and more powerful, and more realistic — but none of those competitors can claim the destruction of two Death Stars and ownership by Luke Skywalker on their resumes. There's a reason the X-Wing has its own video game and novel series. Your reigning starfighter champ 35 years running. May the Force be with you.

Think we missed an indispensable starfighter, or just disagree with our ranking order? Fire away in the comments section.

About Jay Garmon

Jay Garmon has a vast and terrifying knowledge of all things obscure, obtuse, and irrelevant. One day, he hopes to write science fiction, but for now he'll settle for something stranger — amusing and abusing IT pros. Read his full profile. You can a...

Full Bio

Jay Garmon has a vast and terrifying knowledge of all things obscure, obtuse, and irrelevant. One day, he hopes to write science fiction, but for now he'll settle for something stranger — amusing and abusing IT pros. Read his full profile. You can also follow him on his personal blog.